TO RETURN BY WEEPING-CROSS, verb. phr. (old).—1.  To fail, suffer defeat, meet with repulse. Hence (2) to repent, to lament: cf. LOTHBURY. [NARES: Of the three places now retaining the name, one is between Oxford and Banbury; another very near Stafford, where the road turns off to Walsall; the third near Shrewsbury: these crosses being, doubtless, places where penitents particularly offered their devotions.]

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  1580.  J. LYLY, Euphues and His England, D. ii. b. But the time will come when, comming home by WEEPING CROSSE, thou shalt confesse that it is better to be at home.

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  1605.  DEKKER, Eastward Hoe, iv. 1 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (REED), iv. 266]. Since they have all FOUND THE WAY BACK AGAIN, BY WEEPING CROSS. But I’ll not see ’em.

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  1605.  HEYWOOD, If You Know Not Me [Works (1874), i. 267].

        Had you before the law foreseen the losse,
You had not now COME HOME BY WEEPING-CROSSE.

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  1612.  WITHER, Prince Henrie’s Obsequies.

        For here I mourne, for your-our publike losse;
And doe my pennance, at the WEEPING CROSSE.

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  1614.  FLETCHER, The Night-Walker, or the Little Thief, i. 1.

        One is a kind of WEEPING CROSS, Jack,
A gentle Purgatory.

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  1629.  The Young Gallant’s Whirligig.

        For if hee straggle from his limits farre,
(Except the guidance of some happy starre
Doe rectifie his steps, restore his losse)
He may perhaps COME HOME BY WEEPING CROSSE.

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  1655.  FANSHAWE, Lusiad, x. 64.

        The pagan king of Calicut take short,
That would have past him; with no little loss
SENDING HIM HOME AGAIN BY WEEPING CROSS.

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  1660.  HOWELL, English Proverbs, P. 3. b.

        He that goes out with often losse,
At last COMES HOME BY WEEPING CROSSE.

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